SEC: Auburn practice 090820

AUBURN, Ala. -- I had a chance to talk with Auburn junior offensive tackle Lee Ziemba on Thursday.

Ziemba, one of the better left tackles in the SEC and always one to speak his mind, didn't hold back on where he thinks it all fell apart last season.

"When things started to go wrong, we stopped working," Ziemba said. "I guess it started from the coaches on down, kind of a lack of interest. You could tell there was tension within the ranks, and the players started choosing sides. Once that starts happening, the team breaks apart and people stop caring. People stop working hard.

"I think we needed a change ... if we were going to get it back."

That change came in the form of Tommy Tuberville accepting a $5.1 million settlement to step aside following a 5-7 season and Gene Chizik returning to Auburn as head coach. He was the Tigers' defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2004.

Ziemba said there's no mistaking what the identity of this program will be under Chizik.

"He's always preaching to us about continuing what Auburn was built on, and that's down and dirty hard work," Ziemba said. "A man can only count on what he earns. That's basically what coach Chizik is trying to instill in us.

"We're getting down to good old hard work, and that's what we needed."

AUBURN, Ala. -- Having spent a little time around the Auburn football complex this morning and talking to a few of the coaches, it's obvious there's a lot of excitement about where this program is headed.

But as first-year Auburn coach Gene Chizik has said himself, this program is a ways off from where it was when it went 13-0 and won the Sugar Bowl in 2004.

Of particular note, the Tigers are concerned about their depth. Before putting a couple of walk-ons on scholarship over the weekend, they were 10 players under the 85-scholarship limit and are scary thin on the offensive line, at receiver, at linebacker and at safety.

In short, there just aren't a lot of guys from Tommy Tuberville's last two recruiting classes left.

With a little more than two weeks to go until the Sept. 5 opener against Louisiana Tech, the coaches feel good about their first 11 on offense. Staying healthy will be crucial.

Look for junior Mario Fannin to play a much bigger role in this offense than he has in the past. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is committed to getting him the ball and would like to use him similar to the way he did Felix Jones at Arkansas in 2006.

The 225-pound Fannin is bigger than Jones, but will get some chances at quarterback in the Wildcat formation and will move around from the slot to running back. He's looked good this preseason.

The speed guy in the backfield is freshman Onterio McCalebb, who's really been impressive this preseason with his big-play ability. He and Ben Tate should complement each other nicely.

Newly named starting quarterback Chris Todd continues to look good throwing the football, and the shoulder problems that had plagued him appear to be in his rear-view mirror. He threw a ball on a comeback route earlier this week in practice that got everybody's attention.

Receivers coach Trooper Taylor likes what he's seen from freshman receivers DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake, although Benton's a little rusty from having not played football last season.

One advantage Auburn is going to have this season in the passing game is the versatility of tight end Tommy Trott. He can play on the line or split out wide, meaning he'll be able to stay on the field regardless of the formation.

Defensively, the front seven really needs to come through for the Tigers, who are working some guys at both end and tackle, including Michael Goggans, to help with depth.

Injuries to Aairon Savage and Mike McNeil have put the Tigers in a tough spot at safety. Savage tore his Achilles and is out for the season, while McNeil is still rehabilitating from a broken leg and probably won't be available until midseason at the earliest.

Sophomore Neiko Thorpe has been the Tigers' best cornerback during camp, and true freshman defensive back Daren Bates is also going to be difficult to keep off the field.